Arts, Briefly; Lonergan Broadway Debut to Star Matthew Broderick

Kenneth Lonergan, with his run of Off Broadway hits ("This Is Our Youth," "Lobby Hero") and an Oscar-nominated film ("You Can Count on Me"), is now ready to add a Broadway debut to the list, and he is doing so with an old friend. Yesterday, a group of big-shot Broadway producers, including Scott Rudin, Carole Shorenstein Hays and Roger Berlind, announced that next spring they would bring to Broadway Mr. Lonergan's newest play, "The Starry Messenger," a comedy-drama starring his old buddy Matthew Broderick (currently appearing on Broadway in the hit revival of "The Odd Couple"). Mr. Lonergan, right, will also direct "The Starry Messenger," which tells the story of an astronomy teacher (Mr. Broderick) at the Hayden Planetarium who is trying to divine the secrets of the universe and marriage. No theater or additional casting has been announced, but an April 2007 opening is anticipated.